'Dubai move was a family choice'

Former Leeds United and Aston Villa boss David O'Leary will join Cannavaro at the Rashid Stadium after being named manager of the 2009 United Arab Emirates champions. "It wasn't an economic choice, it was a family choice," Cannavaro said on Sunday. "Here, there's not as much pressure as in the leagues I'm used to and I would like to help the younger players to gain from my experience and to help them win something important in their future."

Cannavaro, 36, said he regretted not being able to fulfil his ambition of finishing his career at home-town club Naples.

"I was born in Naples so it would have been a nice thing, but we and Naples didn't have the same ideas for the future, so I'm happy to have taken this new road for me and my family," said the 2006 World Player of the Year.

"The real problem was that we had a big change since 2006. I think that affected our performance."  He predicted that Germany or Spain would win the tournament.